Fantasy Football: Start or sit for Falcons vs. Bills

Fantasy Football: Start or sit for Falcons vs. Bills

This week the undefeated Atlanta Falcons are back at home again to host the Buffalo Bills.

Here’s a look at who to start and sit in fantasy football.

QB: Start Matt Ryan, start Tyrod Taylor

The box score will tell you that Ryan threw three interceptions last week. While it’s true, it doesn’t tell you two of them were because his receivers tipped what should have been catches. Ryan still managed to put up 294 yards and two touchdowns against a decent Detroit defense. Atlanta’s offense is still elite, so Ryan should stay in your lineup as long as he’s healthy.

On the other side, Taylor is coming off a brilliant game against the Broncos. He completed 20 of 26 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Denver’s defense is as brutal as they come, so that performance should give him a confidence boost and lead to more production, at least in theory. If he’s on your team, you can certainly do worse than starting Taylor this week.

RB: Sit Devonta Freeman, start LeSean McCoy

If there’s one thing these Bills do well, it’s stopping the run. Through three weeks they’re allowing just 75 rushing yards per game and only the Vikings have given up fewer fantasy points to opposing running backs. Freeman is normally a must-start every week, but against Buffalo you might want to go with somebody else.

The Falcons have been less successful, especially against “shifty” pass-catching running backs like McCoy this year. So far, they’ve allowed 26 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns at RB. Opposing teams are also averaging 4.8 yards per carry (No. 29) and only three teams have allowed more fantasy points at the position. McCoy has been quiet so far this year and he’s due for a breakout game, so starting him this week should be an easy decision.

WR: Start Julio Jones, sit everyone else

Assuming Atlanta’s run game is contained by the Bills, that should open up more opportunities for Jones. That is great news for his fantasy owners because he has somehow managed to not scored a touchdown yet this season. Expect that to change this week.

Buffalo doesn’t have anything going on here since trading Sammy Watkins to the Rams. Jordan Matthews and Zay Jones both have potential but until one of them actually starts putting up numbers fantasy owners should avoid the Bills wide receiver corps like the plague.

TE: Sit Austin Hooper, start Charles Clay

So much for the Austin Hooper hype train. If not for an 88-yard touchdown against Chicago Week 1, this season would be a total bust so far. After getting talked up all offseason, Hooper has only seen six targets this year. Until Steve Sarkisian gets him more involved in the offense, Hooper is definitely not worth a TE1 spot.

As for the Bills, a lot Taylor’s early targets have gone to Clay, who has put them to good use. So far Clay has caught 13 of his 18 targets for 115 yards and two touchdowns. The Falcons had some trouble covering these kinds of tight ends last year. If that re-surfaces, Clay could be in for a big game.

D/ST: Sit Falcons, sit Bills

Projections for both of these defenses are not good this week, with neither of them ranking in the top 20.